Deconjugative α-Alkylation of Cyclohexenecarboxaldehydes: An Access to Diverse Terpenoids

A general and efficient method for the deconjugative α-alkylation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes promoted by a synergistic effect between t BuOK and NaH, which considerably increases the reaction rate under mild conditions, is reported. The β,γ-unsaturated aldehyde, resulting from the α-alkylation, is transformed in high yield into the corresponding allyl acetate via a lead(IV) acetate-mediated oxidative fragmentation. This strategy could be used for the construction of the carbon skeleton of a wide variety of alkyl or arylterpenoids.